Portable exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable exercise apparatus consists of several lightweight, separate components. The apparatus has a resilient, flexible, somewhat bouncy base member shaped as a half spheroid, having rounded lateral surfaces and a substantially flat bottom surface. A height adjustable support post member is connected to and extends up from the base member. It is removeably secured to the base member. A foot supporting member comprising laterally extending support arms is removeably attached to the upper end of the post member. The apparatus supports the feet and legs of the user, by maintaining the legs elevated at a selected height off the ground, when the user is lying on his or her back in a sit-up position. In this position, with legs supported, the user can do a variety of rotational and sit-up type exercises.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The herein application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/512,473 filed on Jul. 28, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a wide variety of portable exercising devices and apparatuses which purport to be easy to use and which claim to provide beneficial results. Many of these are designed to strengthen the abdomen, leg, and back muscles. However, such devices have varying degrees of effectiveness, both with regard to portability, set-up, and physical effort required versus results achieved. The cost of exercise devices is, of course, also a consideration. Cheaper products are largely ineffective for the average user, while more expensive exercise systems are out of the price range of most consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With these considerations in mind, it is the object of the present invention to provide a portable exercise apparatus which successfully overcomes the limitations of prior exercise devices or apparatuses, and provides a cost effective alternative, both from an economic, as well as a health conscious standpoint.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a portable exercise apparatus which consists of only a few separate, lightweight components which can easily and quickly be assembled for use and disassembled for transport and storage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable exercise apparatus which is easy to use, and, if utilized properly, provides an effective aerobic, abdominal, leg and back strengthening, and weight loss tool.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a portable exercise apparatus which is economical to manufacture and ship and thus inexpensive for purchase by the consumer.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a portable exercise apparatus which comprises a resilient, flexible, somewhat bouncy base member, shaped as a half sphereoid, having rounded lateral surfaces and a substantially flat bottom surface. A height adjustable support post member is connected to and extends up from the base member. It is removeably secured to the base member. A foot supporting member comprising laterally extending support arms is removeably attached to the upper end of the post member. The apparatus supports the feet and legs of the user, by maintaining the legs elevated at a selected height off the ground, when the user is lying on his or her back in a sit-up position. In this position, with legs supported, the user can do a variety of rotational and sit-up type exercises.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the components of the portable exercise apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the portable exercise apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the portable exercise apparatus of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Portable exercise apparatus 1 comprises base member 2 configured as a half spheroid having rounded lateral surfaces 3, flat top surface 4, and substantially flat bottom surface 5. Base member 2 is resilient, and somewhat bouncy, made of hard, flexible rubber, or equivalent material.

Opening 6 through top surface 4 of base member 2 has threads 7 which are configured to accept and threadably engage threads 8 at lower end 12 of lower sleeve 14, in order to connect the sleeve to the base member. Sleeve 14 is configured to be telescopically inserted within upper sleeve 16. Sleeves 14 and 16 make up the horizontal post member 10 of exercise apparatus 1. The height of the horizontal post member 10 can be readily adjusted. Spring-loaded pin 18, or equivalent connection means extending from lower sleeve 14, is inserted into the appropriate openings in upper sleeve 16. Horizontal post member 10 is longest and therefore exercise apparatus 1 is at its highest when pin 18 extends through opening 20. Horizontal post member 10 is obviously the shortest and therefore exercise apparatus is at its lowest when pin 18 extends through opening 21.

Foot support member 22 comprises laterally extending support arms 24 and 26. The arms have padding 25 and 27 to provide comfort while supporting the legs of the user. Foot supporting member 22 also comprises central section 28 having opening 30. Screw connector 32 is configured to extend through opening 30 into corresponding opening 33 at upper end 34 of upper sleeve 16 in order to secure foot supporting member 22 perpendicularly to horizontal post member 10 of exercise apparatus 1.

The manner of connection of foot supporting member 22 to upper sleeve 16 and the manner of connection of lower sleeve 14 to base member 2 is not deemed to be restricted to that which is disclosed herein, it is contemplated that equivalent connection means can be utilized to secure the components one to the other.

In use, exercise apparatus 1 is set to a comfortable height by adjusting sleeves 14 and 16 so that pin 18 extends through one of the openings 20, 21, or the openings therebetween. Exercise apparatus 1 is then positioned on a mat, floor, or other flat ground surface, so as to stand vertically in place on flat surface 5 of base member 2. User 40 then lies prone on the ground on his or her back in a sit-up position, placing legs 42 and 44 on padding 25 and 27, which encompass laterally extending arms 24 and 26. See FIG. 3. Once in this position, the user can pivot and rotate, causing exercise apparatus 1 to smoothly move in various angles back and forth 50 or from side to side 52 over lateral rounded surfaces 3 of base member 2. Such exercises assist in strengthening abdominal, leg, and back muscles, utilizing proper exercise form. Exercise apparatus 1 allows for variation in exercises and exercise routines as well. It also permits the user to do sit-ups while keeping his or her legs and feet off the ground, raised above the body.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a resilient base member having rounded lateral surfaces; a horizontal post member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said post member extending up from and being connected to the base member; and support means connected to the upper end of the post member for maintaining the feet and legs of a user in an elevated position above the base member and the post member.
 2. The exercise apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the base member has a substantially flat bottom surface.
 3. The exercise apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the support means comprises a foot supporting member connected substantially perpendicular to the post member.
 4. The exercise apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the foot supporting member comprises dual laterally extending foot supporting arm member.
 5. The exercise apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for removeably securing the base member to the post member.
 6. The exercise apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising second means for removeably securing the post member to the support means.
 7. The exercise apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for removeably securing the post member to the support means.
 8. The exercise apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the post member comprises adjustment means for setting the height of the post member.
 9. The exercise apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the adjustment means comprises two telescoping sleeves configured to be connected at a plurality of different locations in order to set the post member at a plurality of different heights.
 10. The exercise apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the support means comprises a foot supporting member connected substantially perpendicular to the post member.
 11. The exercise apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the foot supporting member comprises dual laterally extending foot supporting arm members.
 12. The exercise apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the base member is in the shape of half of a spheroid.
 13. An exercise apparatus comprising: a resilient base member in the shape of half of a spheroid, said base member having rounded lateral surfaces and a substantially flat bottom surface; a horizontal post member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said post member being connected to and extending up from the base member; and a foot supporting member comprising dual laterally extending arm members, said foot supporting member connected substantially perpendicularly to the upper end of the post member for supporting the feet and legs of a user in an elevated position over the base member and the post member.
 14. The exercise apparatus as in claim 13 further comprising means for removeably securing the base member to the post member.
 15. The exercise apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising second means for removeably securing the post member to the support member.
 16. The exercise apparatus as in claim 13 further comprising means for removeably securing the post member to the support member.
 17. The exercise apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the post member comprises adjustable means for setting the height of the post member.
 18. The exercise apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the adjustment means comprises two telescoping sleeves configured to be connected at a plurality of different locations in order to set the post member at a plurality of different heights.
 19. An exercise apparatus comprising separate components, these components comprising: a resilient base member in the shape of half of a spheroid, said base member having rounded lateral surfaces, a substantially fiat bottom surface, and base member connection means for securing a horizontal post member to the base member; a horizontal post member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of said post member having lower connection means for securing the post member to the base member and upper connection means for securing the post member to a foot supporting member; and a foot supporting member comprising dual laterally extending arm members, said foot supporting member having post member connection means for securing the foot supporting member substantially perpendicularly to the upper connection means of the post member, whereby when the post member connection means is secured to the upper connection means and the base member connection means is secured to the lower connection means, the feet and legs of a prone user which are resting on the arm members will be supported in an elevated position over the base member and the post member.
 20. The exercise apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the post member comprises adjustable means for setting the height of the post member.
 21. The exercise apparatus as in claim 20 wherein the adjustable means comprises two telescoping sleeves configured to be connected at a plurality of different locations in order to set the post member at a plurality of different heights. 